Locking and adjusting means for crushers and control means therefor



Jan. 7, 1969 PETERS ET AL 3,420,457

LOCKING AND USTING M NS FOR CRUSHERS AND v CONTROL MEA THEREFOR Filed Feb. 10, 1966 sheet {j I mm It I A! m g nun,

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LOCKING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CRUSHERS AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 10, 1966 Sheet 2 Of 2 i i W 7 //VVAWTO/?5.

United States Patent 3 Claims This invention relates to gyratory crushers and in particular to a fluid system for operating the bowl locking and bowl adjusting means.

A primary purpose of the invention is a fluid control system for use in adjusting the bowl of a gyratory crusher relative to its main frame.

Another purpose is a fluid control system of the type described in which both the bowl unlocking means and the bowl adjusting means are operated from the same fluid system.

Another purpose is a fluid control system of the type described including a pressure sequence valve for providing fluid to the bowl adjusting means only after the bowl locking means has been released.

Another purpose is a gyratory crusher fluid control system for moving a bowl both up and down relative to the crusher main frame by rotating the ram about its vertical axis.

Another purpose is a reliably operable compact fluid control system of the type described.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical section through a gymtory crusher,

FIGURE 2 is a partial top plan view of a crusher illustrating the means for rotating the bowl relative to the main frame,

FIGURE 3 is a slightly enlarged side view of the ram illustrated in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustrating the fluid circuit used herein.

Turning to FIGURE 1, a portion of the main frame of a gyratory crusher is indicated at 10, with the main frame extending upwardly and having an outwardly directed flange 12. Movable within the main frame is a head indicated generally at 14 which will be gyrated about a point X in a conventional manner by a drive system not illustrated herein.

The upper surface 16 of the head 14 cooperates with a bowl liner 18 to define a crushing cavity 20. The bowl liner 18 may be attached to a bowl 22 which has an outwardly threaded surface 24. Extending conically upwardly and outwardly from the bowl liner 18 is a surface 26 which terminates at an upwardly directed annular surface 28 forming a hopper or the like for the introduction of material to be crushed into the crushing cavity. A feed distributor 30 is generally centrally positioned within the crusher and moves with the gyratory head 14.

Extending downwardly from the main frame flange 12 is a spring cluster indicated generally at 32 and there are normally a series of such clusters spaced circumferentially 3,420,457 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 around the crusher. Each spring cluster 32 may include a plurality of springs and there may be a large bolt or the like 34 which extends within one spring and is held to a bottom flange 36 by a nut or the like 38 fastened on the lower end of the bolt. The upper end of bolt 34 may extend through an opening 40 in the flange 12 and may then extend through an aligned opening 42 in an outwardly extending flange 44 on a tilting ring or adjusting ring 46. A bolt head 48 may hold the upper end of the bolt 34 to the adjusting ring flange 44. In normal operation the spring clusters will permit the bowl, which is threaded to the adjusting ring 46, to move upwardly when uncrushable material moves through the crushing cavity.

As mentioned above, the bowl may be screw-threaded into the adjusting ring 46. Positioned directly above the adjusting ring is a locking ring 50 which may also be screw-threaded onto the bowl and is used to lock the bowl in position relative to the main frame and adjustment ring assembly. Spaced circumferentially about the adjusting ring are a plurality of cavities or the like 52 which are aligned with similar cavities 54 in the bottom surface of the locking ring 50. Positioned Within the cavities 52 and 54 are clamping units indicated generally at 56.

The clamping units are illustrated in detail in FIGURE 4 and each may include a plurality of disc springs 58 which are positioned beneath and in contact with a piston head 64. Both the springs and the piston are within a cylinder 62. A piston rod 60 is attached to or is part of each piston head 64 and each piston head 64 and each piston rod may extend completely through its cylinder to bear against the underneath side of the locking ring 50. Normally the spring arrangement will apply a vertical thrust between the adjusting ring and locking ring so that the clamping units, as a group, are effective around the crusher to apply an upthrust to the bowl relative to the adjustment ring. For example, four, six, or eight such units may be positioned at spaced intervals about the crusher to apply a uniform upthrust to the locking ring and bowl. The total upthrust of all units may be just slightly more than the weight of the bowl structure so that thread clearance will be eliminated. On the other hand, the total upthrust may be sufficiently large so that it not only eliminates thread clearance, but also binds the threads between the bowl and adjusting ring sufiiciently to lock the bowl against rotation during normal crushing. When the lock provided by the spring arrangement is to be released, fluid pressure is applied to each cylinder 62 to move each piston head 64 downwardly to compress the springs and thus release the bowl for rotation relative to the adjustment ring.

A top cap 66 may be attached to the upper end of the bowl and may have a peripheral skirt 68 which extends downwardly a distance suflicient to mask the upper end of the adjusting ring and the locking ring. Note that the outer surface of the skirt 68 may be formed with a series of teeth 70. A ram 72, note FIGURE 2, is positioned on the adjusting ring and has a head 74 positioned to move into contact with the teeth 70 to thus rotate the top cap 66 and the bowl relative to the adjusting ring. A locking pawl or the like 76 may also be pivoted on the adjusting ring and may be used to provide a positive lock to the top cap 66, to thus positively lock the bowl against unintended movement. Forward movement of the ram 72 will cause the pawl 76 to swing outwardly away from teeth 70 to thus release the top cap and bowl for rotational movement.

As shown herein, both the cylinders 56 and the ram 72 are hydraulically operated, but it could be otherwise. In any event, both are fluid operated and preferably are in the same fluid system.

Ram 72 is pivotally mounted on the adjusting ring and there may he a pair of such rams spaced 180 degrees apart, with both rams operating to move the bowl relative to the adjusting ring. Various arrangements of rams may be utilized. As shown herein, both rams operate to move the bowl in both directions relative to the main frame and adjusting ring and the rams pivot so as to apply a thrust in either direction. It could be otherwise, as there may be a pair of rams on opposite sides of the crusher, with each ram moving the bowl only in one direction relative to the adjustment ring. Either form is satisfactory. Also, the ram or rams may be reversible, to apply force to rotate the bowl in either direction, to increase or diminish the crushing cavity.

In normal crusher operation as the bowl liner wears away, the bowl will be adjusted downwardly to compensate for the reduced thickness of the bowl liner. However, in many applications it is desirable to adjust the bowl upwardly to enlarge the size of the crushing cavity, for example to crush diflerent size material or for other purposes.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, a motor 80 may drive a pump 82 which provides hydraulic fluid for the system. A normal pressure release valve is indicated at 84, with the valve venting back to a sump 86. With the valve 90 open, as in FIGURE 4, no pressure will be generated by the pump 82. However, when valve 90 is closed, pressure will be generated in line 88. When pressure in line 88 reaches a predetermined point, pressure sequence valve 94 will operate and fluid under pressure will be admitted from line 88 into line 96. Connected in line 96 is a solenoid operated two-position, four-way valve 98 which is used to direct fluid under pressure to the rams 72. A bypass 100 is connected around valve 98 and a check valve 102 may be connected between one end of the bypass and valve 98, with the direction of free flow from the valve to the bypass. A line 104 connects one side of each ram cylinder 106 to valve 98 and a line 108 connects the other side of each ram cylinder 106 to check valve 102.

In operation, after fluid pressure has built up to the point where the disc springs will be compressed to thus release the bowl for adjustment, the pressure will continue to build up in line 88- until it is suflicient to open pressure sequence valve 94. Assuming valve 98 is in the position shown, fluid will flow through check valve 102 through line 108 into the retracting side of each ram 106. Thus the piston 110 retracts. As each piston 110' retracts, fluid will be exhausted from the bottom side of each cylinder through line 104 to sump 86. In actual use, the cylinder 106 and piston 110 of the diagram FIGURE 4 will be in a horizontal position.

When valve 98 is in the opposite position, pressure will be applied through line 104 to the extending side of each piston 110. At the same time, fluid will be applied to the retracting side of each piston 110 through bypass 100 and line 108. As check valve 102 prevents the fluid in line 108 from being exhausted back to the sump, pistons 110 will have fluid at the same pressure on their opposite sides. Although the same fluid pressure is on each side of each ram piston, there will be a force differential due to the cross-sectional area of the piston rod attached to each ram piston 110, thus causing the ram to extend.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

The invention is directed specifically to a fluid or hydraulic control system for use in bowl adjustment, or in varying cavity clearance between opposed crushing faces. Normally the bowl will be held against unintentional movement by providing an upthrust between the bowl and the adjustment ring. This upthrust can be sufficient to completely lock the bowl or it can merely be sufficient to remove thread clearance to prevent damage to the threads during operation of the crusher. However, it is preferred to supply a suflicient thrust from the disc springs to actually lock the bowl to the adjusting ring. In any event, hydraulic means or fluid means are used to release such a lock and, as shown herein, this hydraulic release may take the form of a piston and cylinder assembly which forms a part of the clamping unit locking the bowl. The piston and cylinder assemblies compress the springs to release the bowl for adjustment. Actual adjustment of the bowl may be accomplished by a pair of rams which may be spaced at diametrically opposed points about the crusher. Both rams may operate to move the bowl in both directions, or there may be a pair of rams at each side of the bowl, with each set of rams being used to move the bowl in only one direction. Or individual rams may be reversible, to rotate the bowl in opposite directions. It is advantageous to coordinate operation of bowl release and bowl adjustment so that there will be no bowl adjustment when the lock is on. Accordingly, the hydraulic system shown herein does not permit operating fluid pressure to reach the rams for bowl adjustment until the fluid pressure applied to release the disc springs has reached the point where the springs are compressed and thus the bowl is released. A pressure sequence valve is in the fluid circuit and no fluid pressure is applied to the rams until the pressure in the line has gone beyond the point where the springs are compressed.

An important feature of the invention is the actual application of pressure to the rams for up and down movement of the bowl. This is accomplished by providing the same pressure to opposite sides of the ram piston, with the differential in force being provided by the cross sectional area of the piston rod forming a part of the ram.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with a crusher in which the bowl is screw-threaded into an adjusting ring which in turn is tiltably mounted on the main frame, obviously the invention should not be limited to this particular structure. The overall hydraulic circuit has wider application and may be utilized in any type of crusher in which there is a hydraulic release for a spring lock eflective between the bowl and main frame, and in which there is hydraulic or fluidoperated means for rotating the bowl relative to the main frame.

The invention has been described in connection with an arrangement in which an upthrust is applied to the bowl to remove thread clearance and frictionally hold the bowl in place. In some applications, a downthrust may be practical.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. For use with a crusher having a main frame, a bowl screwthreadedly adjustable in relation to the main frame and a head positioned within the main frame and gyrated relative to the bowl, the space between the head and bowl forming a crushing cavity, said crusher including an adjustment system including yielding locking means adapted to lock the bowl against unintended rotation in relation to the frame, and fluid operable unlocking means for releasing the bowl locking means, and further including fluid operable adjusting means for moving the bowl, a fluid actuating unitary circuit which includes pump means adapted to be put in circuit with the unlocking means and with the fluid operable adjusting means for moving the bowl, and a pressure sequence valve in said fluid circuit connected to said unlocking means and connected between the pump means and the fluid operable adjusting means, said pressure sequence valve being arranged to open and permit operation of said adjusting means at a pressure sufficient to insure prior operation of said unlocking means.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a reversal valve in the fluid actuating circuit, located between the pump and the fluid operable adjusting means.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a reversal valve in the fluid actuating circuit, located between the pump and the fluid operable adjusting means, and further characterized in that the fluid operable adjusting means include a cylinder and a piston and fluid connections between the fluid actuating circuit and the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston.

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

1. FOR USE WITH A CRUSHER HAVING A MAIN FRAME, A BOWL SCREWTHREADEDLY ADJUSTABLE IN RELATION TO THE MAIN FRAME AND A HEAD POSITIONED WITHIN THE MAIN FRAME AND GYRATED RELATIVE TO THE BOWL, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HEAD AND BOWL FORMING A CRUSHING CAVITY, SAID CRUSHER INCLUDING AN ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM INCLUDING YIELDING LOCKING MEANS ADAPTED TO LOCK THE BOWL AGAINST UNINTENDED ROTATION IN RELATION TO THE FRAME, AND FLUIDE OPERABLE UNLOCKING MEANS FOR RELEASING THE BOWL LOCKING MEANS, AND FURTHER INCLUDING FLUID OPERABLE ADJUSTEMENT MEANS FOR MOVING THE BOWL, A FLUID ACTUATING UNITARY CIRCUIT WHICH INCLUDES PUMP MEANS ADAPTED TO BE PUT IN CIRCUIT WITH THE UNLOCKING MEANS AND WITH THE FLUID OPERABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR MOVING THE BOWL, AND A PRESSURE SEQUENCE VALVE IN SAID FLUID CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO SAID UNLOCKING MEANS AND CONNECTED BETWEEN THE PUMP MEANS AND THE FLUID OPERABLE ADJUSTING MEANS, SAID PRESSURE SEQUENCE VALVE BEING ARRANGED TO OPEN AND PERMIT OPERATION OF SAID ADJUSTING MEANS AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO INSURE PRIOR OPERATION OF SAID UNLOCKING MEANS. 